Mr Mentcath on the Geohgy of NithsdaU. 49 



occurs at the Linburii ; and though also very impure, differs 

 fmm that of the Shielgreen. 



The soil of the basin of Closeburn varies very much, par- 

 taking somewhat of the character of the strata which it covers. 

 The soil nearest to the greywacke is clayey and tenacious, re- 

 quiring much drainage, and much lime. Its improvement, after 

 these operations, is rapid and astonishing. Much of the inte- 

 rior of the surface of the basin is thrown up into small risings 

 or eminences, and the soil of all these is invariably of a water- 

 worn, rounded, pebbly gravel. This kind of soil requires no 

 httle expence and exertion to render it productive. But the nu- 

 merous hollows intervening between these gravelly hillocks, are 

 frequently filled with peat-moss, of which the industrious hus- 

 bandman has availed himself, in many instances, to make into 

 compost with lime, and strew over those gravelly grounds. 

 And by these means, and by cultivating the turnip, and feed- 

 ing them off with sheep, he is enabled to reap heavy crops of 

 grain from these light gravelly tracts of this basin. 



There is a narrow tract of soil, though pretty extensive, moor- 

 ish, and filled with white round pebbly stones, which is the 

 very worst of all the soils in the basin of Closeburn, and is with 

 great difficulty rendered productive. 



There is a considerable extent of land in this basin covered 

 pretty deeply with peat. In reclaiming this soil on the estate 

 of Closeburn, the improvements have been attended with the 

 most gratifying success. A variety of grasses have been culti- 

 vated on these peat soils, but non have succeeded so well as the 

 Holcus lanatus, or soft grass, or Yorkshire fog. Its seeds 

 being produced in immense quantities, can be procured at a 

 cheap rate. The peat land in the course of cultivation is gen^^ 

 rally found to be too little tenacious, and is apt, if sawn with 

 grain crops, to injure much the succeeding grass. In these im- 

 provements on the estate of Closeburn, all grain cultivation has 

 therefore been most carefully avoided. As soon as the peat-soil 

 is prepared 'by proper pulverization^ by ploughing and harrow- 

 ing, it is then sown with the Holcus lanatus^ whose innumerable 

 roots and far-spreading leaves, soon cover over and restore a 

 tenacity to the soil. With this grass the clover grows admi^ 

 rably well. 



APRIL JUNE 1828, D 



